A weekend herper, Joe Cavataio likes getting wet and dirty in pursuit of the Chicago area’s frogs, toads, and salamanders. He’ll share his knowledge of natural history and conservation efforts to help amphibians living in our urban environment. Full program description.

Photo by Joe Cavataio

26th Annual Natural Landscaping Seminar

Saturday, February 24, 2018
8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
McHenry County College Luecht Conference Center 
8900 US Route 14, Crystal Lake, IL
 

“Design for Habitat” is the theme this Wildflower Preservation and Proprogation Committee program. Speaker lineup and registration information. 

 

This is the moment to learn, collaborate and take action. View more than 30 award-winning films at 50 locations throughout Chicagoland from March 2-11. Engage in rich discussions with filmmakers and experts. Leave with ideas for addressing climate change, waste, conservation and more.The schedule is set. Locations throughout the Chicago area, including West Cook. Festival website.

Also of interest
Battling Buckthorn:  Effective Strategies for Removal, Replacement, and Client Communications
Most private property owners don’t realize its harmful effects on surrounding trees, wildlife, and landscapes. The Chicago Region Trees Initiative,  the Forest Preserve District of Lake County, Ringers Landscaping, and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association have partnered to teach landscape professionals how to manage and eradicate this invasive species and to communicate these concerns to their clients.
Register for this free workshop here.
Chicago’s Unrivaled Biodiversity

Reduce your carbon imprint with a local eco-tour! WBEZ Worldview host Jerome McDonnell interviewed local nature photographer/author Mike MacDonald and botanist/ author Dr. Gerhould Wilhelm.
Hunting for the Lost Farms of North America:
Archeologists are studying the crops of indigenous people from thousands of ago
Why Native Plants are Better for Birds and People:
Audubon Society discusses the many reasons native plants are the best choices in landscaping
More emerging science about bees
Many of us probably became aware of native bees through our concern for honeybees, but we are learning now that our conservation emphasis should be on the needs of our native pollinators. Here is a brief 4 minute podcast from NPR's Science Friday and a more detailed article  "Think of honeybees as 'livestock,' not wildlife, argue experts" from ScienceDaily.  Let's keep reducing lawn, planting a lot of native flowers, with particular emphasis on spring and fall when there are too few flowers available for all of our pollinators.  We can also focus on planting native plants that support specialist bees, which are particularly vulnerable.


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